I hope that what I write here will help students of Spanish and of the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries to develop vocabulary, practice structures, and better understand our rich customs and histories.

Another sport that we don't follow much in the US but which is very popular in other parts of the world is cycling. July is the month of the biggest cycling competition in the world--the Tour de France--this year celebrating its one hundredth anniversary. This is a grueling 3-week course, twenty-one days of sprinting, climbing, teamwork, and dangerous crashes, with riders out on the road from four to six hours a day through all kinds of weather, on flat roads, high mountains, and ancient cobblestone streets. It is the world's most challenging sport. Many Hispanic cyclists participate and do well, like the legendary Spanish rider Miguel Indurain and the formidable Argentinean Juan Antonio Flecha. But this year the cyclist that everyone is talking about is the Colombian Nairo Quintana (in front in this photo from Colombia.com). This young rider has finished his first Tour de France in second place behind the British rider Chris Froome. Quintana has earned the white jersey for the Best Young Rider and the polka dot jersey for King of the Mountains (best climber). Colombians are understandably thrilled to see this young rider from a modest family do so well on the international stage. Colombia's cycling program had suffered and fizzled from the violence and chaos that occurred as a result of the drug war and the civil war. Now that the political situation in Colombia is more stable, they are investing once again in sports--and having great success! Read about Quintana and watch an interview with this humble rider.